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iPredict DOUBLE iPhone launch

Apple has instructed supplier Hon Hai to begin shipping a new high-end and low-end iPhone in early September.

That's according to The Wall Street Journal, who claims via Twitter that Cupertino will release a double iPhone offering to customers next month.

Believed to be the expected iPhone 5S, following in the footsteps of the iPhone 5, an iPhone 5C is also predicted to emerge, aimed at the budget end of the market.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the WSJ reports:

"The shipping plans suggest that two new iPhone models could be launched as soon as next month, pointing to a strategy shift as Apple attempts to regain its momentum in the smartphone market.

"The company hasn't previously announced different iPhone models around the same time.

"Apple's suppliers in Asia started mass-producing components in June for both a standard iPhone featuring a metal casing and a lower-cost version, people who work at those companies said."

Unsurprisingly, an Apple spokesperson refused to comment on the claims, but as reported by Techday last month, pictures have already been leaked online, with what many believe will be the retail packaging for the budget smartphone.

Released by WeiPhone forums, the website is well-known in the industry for issuing sneak peeks of Apple devices, suggesting the photo could be legit.